Shortly after winning the 2024 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced significant renovations to Dodger Stadium to upgrade and modernize one of the most iconic ballparks in baseball.
The main area of focus was to the first level of Dodger Stadium, a space that includes the home and visitor clubhouses, batting cages, weight room and other team facilities.
The project has caused some hurdles and challenges this offseason, but the Dodgers are confident it will be worth it, creating a leg-up for themselves and their players.
Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten spoke of the renovations, noting it was necessary to keep up with the times, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“It’s going to be state-of-the-art once again,” team president and CEO Stan Kasten said. “It’s going to be 30 percent bigger than it was. The clubhouse alone is going to be 40 percent bigger. Just keeping up with the times, with the new needs of this generation of players.”
Dodger Stadium upgrades are primarily focused on player facilities, which were last improved in 2012. After the team was sold to Guggenheim Baseball Management, Janet Marie Smith was hired to oversee renovations.
Among the changes were improvements to the outfield video boards, clubhouses, weight rooms, fan restrooms, concession stands, sound system and team batting cages:
“The last time we did it was 12 years ago already,” Kasten said. “That just flew by and there have been a lot of advances – technology, space, just the way clubhouses are used now. They’re used much more than they were in the past and they’re used 365 days a year, unlike in the past. We’re just upgrading it, modernizing it, expanding it and including all of the technological innovations that have emerged in the last few years and allowed some room for future innovation.
“Every new stadium and new renovation of other ballparks have all of the latest things, some of which we didn’t have or which we had tucked into corners that didn’t accommodate it very well. So we were just making this what we did 12 years ago.”
Since their first renovations in 2012, the Dodgers have continued making upgrades to the stadium. In 2013-2014, the team began making new entrances and concession stands, wider concourses, play areas and new bar seating.
In 2015-2016, more memorabilia was added throughout the stadium and more standing room was added to the top deck. 2017 saw the addition of the Jackie Robinson Statue in left field reserve, new premium seating, more memorabilia, more food options and concession stands, and remodeled club and suite areas.
In 2018 and 2019, a new reception lobby was added, as well as a remodeled Top of the Park store and additional food choices.
Their last major changes came in 2020 with renovations to the center field plaza, moving the Robinson statue and adding a Sandy Koufax statue, more food and drink options, entertainment and retail areas, Legends of Dodger Baseball plaques, a bridged concourse across outfield pavilion, new batter’s eye wall in center field, new children’s play area in center field, elevators in left and right field servicing all stadium levels and an overhauled sound system.
Dodger Stadium first opened in 1962, standing as the third-oldest stadium in MLB and sixth-oldest in the United States. As such, it has an extensive history of very successful renovations that has brought the stadium into the modern age.
Dodger Stadium construction on time for Opening Day
Although construction remains ongoing and, on the surface level, appears to be far from completion, the Dodgers are confident their renovations will be completed before Opening Day.
Dodgers officials expressed confidence in late January that the construction would be done and said the field was expected to be placed again soon.
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